A Queer Couple Saves for Top Surgery while Their Medical Debt Balloons

LAST YEAR ALEX MIXSON AND HIS WIFE Marley Britt Were Having a String of Medical Crises. She was unable to work Because of an undiagnosed illness, and he had to have an appendectomy.

“We Couldn’t Aford Columbus Anymore,” Mixson Said of the Ohio City where they lived. Multiple Emergency Medical Visits Drained Their Savings and Racked Up Thouusands of Dollars in Debt.

Mixson, a trans man been transitioning for eight years, Put off his ball surgery to focus on Saving Money and Helping His Wife, WHO HAD BEEN SUFFERING FROM UNDIAGNODED Postural Tachycardia Syndrome – A Condition that Causes and Light. was MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WORK.

“I’D RATHER TAKE CARE OF MY Wife than Be Comfortable in My Skin,” Said Mixson, Who Is 26. The Couple Moved Back to West Virginia, and Both of the Employed, Earning About $ 3.400 A MONTH Total. Mixs is building savings to have top surgery in the next few months.

Britt and Mixon Are of A Cohort of About 91 Million Americans Who Cannot AFFORD or HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY MEDICAL CARE. A Study from the Ucla Williams Institute Also Found that while while Transgender People Have High Rates of Enrollment in Health Insurance, 1 in 3 Avoid Seeking Healthcare of the Cost.

“It ‘a lot to struggle with, and it’s hard,” mixon said, of his journey to affford surgery, “but it is so rewarding at the same time and not feel so shitty.”

Finding Community and Fundraising for Gender-Affirming Medical Care

Mixson works as a front desk receptionist, and his wife is a remote it worker. SINCE Spiraling into debt, the two have had to cut amenities like eating out and have chosen to prioritizes their Emergency savings over paying their medical bills.

The two spend over Half of their Combined Monthly Paychecks on Rent, Transportation, Utilities, and Food, Leaving to me with about $ 100 a month to the aside for savings.

“I haven’t paid a Medical Bill. I Just Kind of Let It Sit on My Credit,” Mixson Said. Britt was finally diagnosed with pots this past month and is receiving proper Treatment for it while working remotely. The newfound stability has allowed the pair to schedule mixson’s top surgery this summer.

Mixson estimates that if insurance doesn’t cover his top surgery, he’ll be on the hook for another $ 10,000. He has Saved some of that amout and started a gofundme to rais an additional $ 3,500. Mixson Said it been hard to fundraise from the small queer community in his hometown, nor he sid sid also struggling to make ends meet.

Mixson haen posting to reddit forums about his fundraiser in an attempt to reach a wider audience online and Garner More Support. As of March 31, He’s Only Raised $ 980 Toward His Goal.

He Said That His Close Friends Have Been Pivotal in Helping Him Figure Out Things Like Insurance and Extending Cash in Times of Need, Including $ 200 New, SO and HIS WIFE COULD GROCERIES.

For Mixson, Top Surgery is a Matter of Safety in Being Able to pass as a cisgender man.

SINCE STARTING Testosterone, He Said, Few People Recognis Him From Before His Transition, but in the Small City, Word Spreads Quickly. There are moms wen mixon is afraid he’ll be recagated. He’s more worked SINCE the ELECTION, GIVE THAT The Trump Has Pulled Funding FROM Institutions that Work on Dei-Relay Projects and Purged Inclusive Language and mention of transgender People on Federal Websites, Saying it promotes “woke” ideology.

“I need to what i need to do, keep my head down and come home,” mixon said. His wife hased him to carry pepper spray in His car in case he is attacked. Research from the Williams Institute at Ucla in 2021 found that transgender individuals are four as likely as their cisgender peers to be vicims of violent crime.

Despite the Financial Challenges, Getting The Surgery is Important to Mixson. From a Young Age, he has struggled with body dysmorphia – Feeling that his Identity didn’t match the gender he was Assured at Birth. Mixson has been taching testosterone for five years and flattens the appearans of his chest using a compressive top, but that has been also led to other kinds of discomfort.

“I’ve been binding for years and it at a point now that that that is almost always always hurting,” mixon said, adding that his transition has brought on his mental health. “I am definitely more outgoing than to be. I Feel Stronger.”

Do you have a story to share? Contact this reporter at [email protected].